THE revival of "Trial by Jury"
and "The Sorcerer," on the 22nd ult., at the Savoy Theatre, was welcomed
by an enthusiastic audience with the warmth that savoured of a first night.
This is not astonishing. Both works contain some of the best numbers which
have emanated from he Gilbert-Sullivan collaboration, and as long as human
nature remains as it is, the wit and satire of the librettos will remain
fresh. In the notice in these columns of the original production of "The
Sorcerer," on November 17, 1877, there occurs the following passage: "To
say that the music of Mr. Sullivan is thoroughly well adapted to the libretto
is only to state a portion of the truth; for it seems as if every composition
had grown up in the mind of the author as he wrote the words. If humour,
wit, and satire can be expressed in music, assuredly many portions of this
opera are as excellent specimens of this class of composition as can well
be imagined." This criticism may be emphatically endorsed to-day. None
of the original cast is to be found in the present company, but the work
is admirably interpreted. Miss Ruth Vincent is a fascinating heroine, Miss
Brandram, who appeared as Lady Sangazure at the revival of the work
at the Savoy in 1884, again sustains the same part, Mr. Walter Passmore
is the irrepressible John Wellington Wells, Mr. H. A. Lytton is
an estimable Vicar, and Mr. Robert Evett, as Alexis, uses
a genuine tenor voice with skill and dramatic perception. Other characters
are well sustained by Miss E. McAlpine, Miss Emmie Owen, and Messrs. James
Hewson and Leonard Russell, and anefficient chorus and orchestra well sustain
the reputation for artistic completeness of the Savoy Theatre.